World Number One Brendan Lawlor was determined to stick to the gameplan after opening up a one-shot lead at the midway point of the G4D Porsche European Open.
Ten of the world’s best disability golfers were teeing it up at Green Eagle Golf Courses as the second of seven 2022 G4D Tour events took place in Hamburg, with World Number Two Kipp Popert winning the first at the G4D @ Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett.
The duo went out together on day one and Lawlor fired a one-over par 73 to lead the way from his playing partner and Spain’s Juan Postigo Arce.
After a bogey at the first, Lawlor picked up shots on the sixth and 12th to get into red numbers before dropping a shot on both the 13th and 15th.
“I played quite well,” he said. “I struck the ball pretty well from the get-go and had a slump after the turn, bogeyed 13 and 15 which could have been pars.
“But I played well all in all, struck it well, just had a wee slump.
“There’s a lot of work to do tomorrow, pretty much the same mindset as today. Go out and try and find the fairways and hopefully make a few birdies early.
“I think that stretch from the first to 13 is pretty tough so if you come in there around level par, one over, and then try and make a few birdies coming in over the stretch.
“I’m happy enough with what I’ve done.”
At 7,475 yards, Green Eagle is one of the longest courses on the DP World Tour but Irishman Lawlor insists hitting fairways is the key to scoring well.
I played well all in all, struck it well, just had a wee slump
“It’s very pure and it’s pretty long and it’s not that wide open, it’s pretty tight,” he said. “So you can’t open up the shoulders too much but the key is hitting fairways. If you hit fairways you can come in with a bit more spin, if you miss fairways you’re chipping out sideways.
“But it’s a risk-reward course, it’s in fabulous condition as well.”
England’s Mike Browne was at three over, with Italian Tommaso Perrino four shots further back.
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